Japan struggles in the wake of worst flooding in decades

The death toll has gone up to 127 as authorities scramble to provide relief to victims.

Tue Jul 10 2018 07:01:51 GMT+0000

A helicopter flies over Mabi town in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture. [Kyodo via Reuters]

The death toll from Japan's worst flooding in nearly four decades has reached 127, with authorities struggling to restore utilities and bring relief to the victims.

The power supply has resumed to all but 3,500 customers, but more than 200,000 remain without water under the scorching sun, with temperatures set to hit 33C in some of the hardest-hit areas, such as the city of Kurashiki.

Torrential rains unleashed floods and landslides in western Japan last week, killing 127, with 63 missing, public broadcaster NHK said.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe cancelled an overseas trip to cope with the disaster, which at one point forced several million from their homes.

Abe has promised that the government will provide financial support to residents affected by the disaster.

The country's Asahi Shimbun newspaper reported that most of the fatalities were from the southwestern Hiroshima Prefecture, where more than 40 people were reported killed.

Officials were quoted as saying that the death toll "may rise" as the extent of the damage remains unknown.

Japan Self-Defense Forces soldiers rescue people from a flooded area in Mabi town. [Issei Kato/Reuters]

Residents receive emergency water supply at Mihara Daini junior high school, which is acting as an emergency water station, in Mihara, Hiroshima Prefecture. A new evacuation order went out on Tuesday in part of Hiroshima Prefecture, after a river blocked by debris overflowed its banks, affecting 23,000 people. [Issei Kato/Reuters]

Rescue workers look for missing people in a house damaged by heavy rain in Kumano, Hiroshima Prefecture. [Kyodo via Reuters]

The government has set aside 70bn yen ($631m) in infrastructure funds to respond to disasters, with 350bn yen ($3.15bn) in reserve, Taro Aso, the finance minister, said. [Issei Kato/Reuters]

Residents rescued from a flooded area in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture. [Kyodo via Reuters]

The death toll had reached 127, with officials quoted as saying that the death toll 'may rise' as the extent of the damage remains unknown. [Kyodo via Reuters]

The extent of the floods in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture. [Kyodo via Reuters]